New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-30
MUSIC AND MUSICIANS.
WAS MOZARTS LIBETTIsT A JEW

WAS MOZARTS LIBETT1ST A JEWf
The Frankforter Zeitung. of Frankfort onthe Main,
pecently published essay Lorenzo Da Ponte,
undertook to combat the statement Of Mr. Krehbie in
THE TRIBUNE that Mozarts librettist Of Hebrew
origin. The writer in the Frankforter Zeitung is
Robert Proess critic OF excellent repue but his
ment is not forceful He says in brief that the
statement that Da Ponte originally Jew 10
rest only allegation OF the untrusuworhy Kelly"
and that to establish the statement II h necessary tell
what was the original name Of Da Pone and that OF his
father Herr Proelss admits that Ponte also fails to
mention the names Of his parents in his Memoric and
nothing about the relationship which Herr Proelss
have existed; because of the identity OF
their names, between Da Ponte and the Bishop OF
Ceneda who educated him. Yet Da Ponte asserts pos
iivey that his father who persuaded him to study
for the priesthood. Finally Herr Procss draws
Mcn from Da Ponies story of his return to his fathers
house from London All Souls Day, when II is the
custom In Catholic countries TO have family reunions.
Da POnte returned unexpectedly and after describing
the joy OF the meeting mentions that he slept In one bed
with his father who said prayer before his crucfI be-
fore retiring
Herr Proelss is entitled to have his points answered,
aud the task Is simple one First Kelly, In his
"Reminiscences makes positive statement on the
subject, but only gives voice TO popular belief Here
his words: d" 1t said that originally he
jew, turned Christian dubbed himself an Able and be-
a great dramatic writer" These "Reminiscences
did appear until 1926 when Da Pone had been
twenty years in America Now, Mr.. Krehbiel furnished
ample evidence Though not for the purpose
of proving that Da POnte of Hebrew origin that
before Da POnte left England he engaged in con-
trOversy with italian who persisently twitted him
with his changes of religious faith The date of the
toversy is liked by the fact that 1t took place while Da
POnte poet to the Royal Theatre. few extracts
from scurrlous pamphlet directed against Da Ponte
and printed in Lisbon will show that Da POnte was
known to have been Jew in his youth long before
Kely's statement printed The title OF the
ara,n HAT no foln
Brcve Notizia dell opera bufla intitolao La scuola
de- Marita STA dele Gonna scritta Dial celebre Lorenz
sacoriote, poea in Italia in Germania, 81 trova
secolare martato asino in Londra"
In this pamphlet two satrca sonnets the second
of which has this superscription sonetto H. dedicate
al mcrito ndicibe DELI Ebreo Lorenzo Daponte poeta
del teatro Itaans in Londra anno 1895. II Quae dopo
di essersi convertito al Cristanesimo nea ctta di
Venezia abbracco 10 state ecclesiastical, tanto che
acluisto la dignta del sacerozlo; venuto in
Inghilterra wolfe altro Pivalc in dosso che
Quelo DELI Imrostura dedc CALICO al Dominus
vObscum accrescere numerO deg Irchi con lefc
In the Pacevoli Noteree.' published in to this
pamphlet, deni al OF the oft repeated statement that
Da Pone was originally Jew was found The author
ship Of the pamphlet Is however charged on one Carlo
Francesca.
Plainly Kelly did not gnae story that Da Ponte
was OF Hebrew origin. 1t is much older than his Rem
The fact that Da Pone says nothing the
subject is proof of nothing His autobiography is full Of
contradictions and hiatuses In The Newiork |
Mirror" of September 49, 1883. Samuel Ward was Da |
Ponies necroogst Both he and y. p Willis, who was
OF the editors OF The Mirror at the time, old
and intimate friends Of Da Ponte. Ward speaks with |
he derived from the old poet himself and says
that he was the son OF dealer II CGneda and
his fourteenth year He was then placed in the Semi
brother The name Of OF this ' Bishop wa, LORENZO Da
pone and it Is evident that while one brother adopted
only his surname. This brother came TO New York in
1880, bringing his daughter. signorina Da Pontc,
Musicale adapting to 1t music from Rossni and other
err rroess seems 10 nsSe he
sons
The dispatches which have appeared in THE TRIBUNE
during the last few days from Plattsburg n have
attention the progress which choral music Is
making throughout the State Ii ia sad that
the residents of Platsburg had never been priv
ieged hear a great choral work performed In their
town. Stimulated by the Worlds Peace Jubilee In 1872
the Chanpain Valley Association was formed, under
whose auspices festival given in 1873 at which
few selections from classical works were given. The
association not supported. however, and dis
banded. In 1892 the Philharmonic Society organ
led and in spite OF many dscouraging circumstances
education of the public. 1t has given twenty-five con
ccrts during the live years OF its existence Never
yielding To the popular clamor for trashy mnsic writes
lis conductor and often not receiving enough to
ing Among other works has 81 sen performances
OF The Messiah, three OF Mendcssohns Forty second
Psalm. each OF The Creation Rossinis stabat
Mater sulivan's FrOdigal Son, ROmbcrg's Lay Of
Bell II has also labored for the improvement Of
church music, rehcarsng and giving in concert selec
tons OF the highest merit" The festival which was
given plattsburg last week also a result OF the
socieys activities and 1t Is much To be hoped that IL
will bc followed by many similar MEETINGS The degree
paid to choral music Is the real test Of
community's musical culture. The officers OF the Phil
harmonic Society Charles Halsey Moore, president;
VI. = Glow, president; Newton Il. Mclwane,
retaTy W. J.. Viewer. treasurer; James g. GarnO,
librarian; Charles Frederick HUDSON musical director
George Henry Hudson, acconpanist
signor Campannis formal announcement OF his con-
enterprise in somewhat better taste than the
erl OF literature OF its class. The fayorite tenor
keeps himself very much in the back ground and though
he expresses Ugh opinions OF the merits OF his artists
there less than the usual amount OF drum beating and
horn blowing IN his statements. The purpose Of his
concerts he says Is TO maintain and quicken the re-
gard and admiration which Italian music has for
centuries enjoyed in all civilized communities The
notices of the artists in their absence OF cXtrav
aganccs In the conventional STYLE OF course
Signorina TOrrcells violin playing will take interest
from the fact that her family adorns the pages of
of Christopher Columbus and invented the barometer,
anianohcr Count Giovanni Maria Torricelli-won fame
a commentator of Dante"